Heavy Duty tubes and Slime

[Cassandra_Cain]

Hi Pooks - how exciting about your upcoming ride.

Back to the topic at hand...I've been using slime tubes on my bike from the get-go and have mixed feelings about them.

The good: last sunday for instance, I heard the distinct, unmistakable sound of a goathead going through my tire while on a bike path. I was a good 2.5 miles from home and was able to ride back with no problem - there was enough air to get me home.

The bad: they are messy!!! prepare to have green, cliche I know, but slime-looking stuff all over your wheel and tire, not to mention tube and your hands! Thus I have been taking a rag in by bike bag because it is really messy otherwise. Then you have what BikeGal mentioned about tire rotation, plus the simple fact that it is a heavier tube as well as more expensive.

My inclination now is to switch to kelvar tires, ala specialized armadillos, tape, and maybe some Thom thorn-resistant tubes (which are not like the slime ones).

Good luck with your event